6 Injured In Freak Accident At Beach Club In Stafford

STAFFORD, CT — A joyous celebration of rock and roll benefiting the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Connecticut did not end well for a half-dozen people Sunday, as a freak accident resulted in non-life threatening injuries, five of which required hospitalization.

The MDA Ride and Concert, featuring Poison lead singer Bret Michaels and Grand Funk Railroad, was winding down at the Sun Valley Beach Club on Old Springfield Road around 6:09 p.m. when on-site emergency personnel were dispatched to a "vehicle accident in the vicinity of site 21 within the campground area of Sun Valley," West Stafford Fire Chief Joe Lorenzetti reported.

Upon arrival, emergency units found an overturned golf cart with at least six persons injured. Four ambulances and two paramedic units were requested, with an additional paramedic unit requested to intercept one of the ambulances en route to a hospital, Lorenzetti reported.

"The exodus of traffic from the venue made it difficult for our units to reach the accident site due to traffic congestion," Lorenzetti said.

Five of the injured were transported to a Hartford-area trauma center with non-life threatening injuries; a sixth victim declined transport, Lorenzetti reported.

On a hot and humid day, an estimated 6,000 people attended the event. Several people were treated for medical and heat-related issues, with some requiring hospitalization, Lorenzetti reported.